Rioja Rates Its 2023 Vintage as "Very Good"
- The rating of 2023 vintage comes from the evaluation of 3,531 samples in blind tastings, resulting in over 17,600 sensory assessments.
- The wines stand out for their structure and pH, which provide greater liveliness and freshness than usual, with good weight on the palate and a finish marked by smoothness and roundness.
- The Regulatory Council has also selected the eight institutional wines that will represent Rioja in corporate events throughout the year.
The Regulatory Council of DOCa Rioja has rated the 2023 vintage as “Very Good” following a plenary session held this morning at its headquarters. This rating has been confirmed by the Council after a thorough and rigorous analysis of 3,531 samples.
In line with the high standards that DOCa Rioja applies to its certification processes, its vintage rating system is one of the most rigorous in existence, with a tasting panel of 150 professionals. Each wine sample is evaluated by five judges, resulting in over 17,600 sensory assessments. The ultimate goal is to ensure maximum authenticity for consumers and professionals alike.
In fact, last year saw the completion of a project to establish a new Tasting Panel for the Regulatory Council, developed with the Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences (ICVV). In addition to implementing a new sensory quality control methodology within the Denomination, the project enhanced the training and qualification of the panel members.
Vintage Assessment
During the plenary session, the Council also reviewed the 2023 vintage, noting that the wines have a good balance of structure and pH, offering sensations of liveliness and freshness greater than usual, making them more fluid with good body and a finish characterized by smoothness and roundness.
The report prepared by the Technical Services of the Regulatory Council highlights the importance of grape selection in the winery, which sparks curiosity about how these wines will evolve during aging. Given the good maturation balance achieved and the aromatic definition the wines currently show, the outlook is optimistic.
“The wines are an `enologist’s feat´ given the complex climatic conditions and the diversity of grapes received at the winery, where a rigorous selection had to be made to manage what seemed to be a ‘whimsical’ production,” explained Pablo Franco, Director of the Regulatory Council’s Control Body, in his report.
By wine type, the red wines stand out for their heterogeneity, ranging from dried or ripe fruit from early harvests before the rains in Rioja Oriental to fresher fruit character from higher-altitude areas, “undoubtedly an interesting aromatic palette to define Rioja based on its territory and how, in this harmony of area and climate, a region is enriched with such unique nuances,” Franco pointed out.
The white wines, already fully established in terms of their enological definition, are excellent representatives of the highest quality in this category, achieving great definition and a notable balance in all phases. “These wines express Rioja varieties very well, particularly those special wines that aim to showcase their potential in future years, as time does its work and helps to assemble and enrich the wine in the aging process—an art that Rioja excels at, especially with white wines,” said Pablo Franco.
According to the report, the rosé wines are progressing in a very interesting direction, showcasing a less-explored aromatic range, with increasingly pronounced floral expressions and lighter colors, accompanied by wines with good volume and freshness.
As a result, the vintage has been rated as “Very Good.”
Institutional Wines 2024
During the plenary session, the Regulatory Council also selected the eight wines that will represent the Denomination at its institutional events throughout the year.
In total, 151 wines from 48 DOCa wineries participated in the blind tasting to select the institutional wines. The tasting panel was composed of a mixed committee of sector experts.
The eight selected wines demonstrate the great diversity of the DOCa Rioja and will be presented with the Council’s corporate labels, specially designed for each category.
The final selection in each category is as follows:
- Generic White Wine 2023
Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta, S.A., Haro (La Rioja) - Barrel-Fermented White Wine 2023
Bodegas Paco García, S.L., Murillo de Río Leza (La Rioja) - Generic Rosé Wine 2023
Bodega San Esteban Protomártir, S. Coop., Murillo de Río Leza (La Rioja) - Generic Red Wine 2023
Sance, S.C., Baños de Ebro (Álava) - Crianza Red Wine 2021
Bodegas Marqués de Reinosa, S. Coop., Autol (La Rioja) - Reserva Red Wine 2020
Bodegas Ramírez, S.L. (Ramírez de la Piscina), San Vicente de la Sonsierra (La Rioja) - Gran Reserva Red Wine 2016
Bardinet Wines, S.A.U. (Marqués del Puerto), Fuenmayor (La Rioja) - Sparkling Reserva Wine 2019
Bodegas Bilbaínas S.A., Haro (La Rioja)
